Exchange activesync VS Goodlink and others...

We are just getting ready to install an exchange server to service about 100 e-mail accounts (80 desktop only, 20 desktop/mobile device users) and are wondering about the best way to get push functionality to those mobile devices along with the ability to access all the information in their exchange mailboxes. We need to have a system that is as user-friendly (user-stupid) as possible but yet will act as a fully functional e-mail client including abilities to move messages between folders, create, edit, delete any items, etc.

So my question is, what's the best route to go? Is the cost of a goodlink service worth it? Is that really the only way to get the full level of functionality that I'm trying to achieve? Or is active sync enough as long as we're running windows mobile treo's? And if we're running a palm treo then goodlink is the best route to go?

The Message Center provides both GoodLink and ActiveSync for customers...and the metrics we see (from the thousands of customers) is that it is a close match for either choice. Activesync (although free with Full Access Accounts) is better for Exchange admins as there are a few minor hurdles to overcome when installing the digital certificates and setting up the server configuration. GoodLink (although $9.95 per device) is a simple click, enter the PIN, and go. We recommend GoodLink as it is the AOL (for lack of a better term) of wireless synchronization.

We are just getting ready to install an exchange server to service about 100 e-mail accounts (80 desktop only, 20 desktop/mobile device users) and are wondering about the best way to get push functionality to those mobile devices along with the ability to access all the information in their exchange mailboxes. We need to have a system that is as user-friendly (user-stupid) as possible but yet will act as a fully functional e-mail client including abilities to move messages between folders, create, edit, delete any items, etc.

So my question is, what's the best route to go? Is the cost of a goodlink service worth it? Is that really the only way to get the full level of functionality that I'm trying to achieve? Or is active sync enough as long as we're running windows mobile treo's? And if we're running a palm treo then goodlink is the best route to go?

Thanks for any input you can give me.

Goodlink had its heyday back when Treo users (600 and 650 - Palm OS only) wanted their devices to work and look like Outlook in their hands. Now of course that's not necessary. The 700wx IS Outlook in your hand.

One thing you may not know is that when you put Good on a device, all the native applications (contacts, calendar, tasks, notes - ALL of it) get taken over by the Good calendar, the Good contacts, the Good task list, etc. That matters when other apps (such as SMS, Google maps, any of those) look into the native databases for their data. If you look around on these forums, you'll find MANY users who lament the fact that Good takes over the device entirely, esp those who've been using the device in its native format, as it's intended to be.

One other thing - with Good, your users won't be able to attach a file to a NEW email, as they can with Pocket Outlook. In other words, if I have a bunch of Word or Excel or PDF files on my device or on my card, I can create a new email and SEND those via email to someone. Can't do that with Good. May not seem like a big deal, but once you have that ability, you'll never go back.

Good was useful for Palm back when it was just a Palm OS world, but now that WM is out, and EAS makes things so easy, Good just isn't relevant.

One other thing to think about when looking for mobile e-mail is security. When using EAS you are responsible for securing the server(s) publishing your e-mail. With a third party app like Goodlink someone else takes on all the risk of securing the servers. You can simply setup a secure connection between your Good server and Good's servers on the Internet (i.e punch an outbound hole through your firewall). If you have the expertise inhouse to publish a Microsoft server on the Internet then EAS is a possible good solution. If you don't have that level of expertise (many think they do but most shops don't as evidenced by the fact Code Red and SQL injections are still fairly common occurrences).